Flat piece pickup heads



June 4, 1968 R. w. OTTAWAY ETAL 3,386,763

FLAT PIECE PICKUP HEADS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1966 [mien f0 rsRobert h/Ottaway Paul G. Rumba]! By theirAttorney June 1968 R. w.o'r'rAwAY ETAL 3,386,763

FLAT PIECE PICKUP HEADS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 21, 1966 United StatesPatent 3,386,763 FLAT PIECE PICKUP HEADS Robert W. Ottaway, outhHamilton, and Paul G.

Rumbail, Beverly, Mass, assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,Boston, Mass, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Get. 21, 1966, Ser. No.588,615 8 Claims. (Cl. 294-611) This invention relates to devices forhandling flexible flat sheet material and more particularly to devicesfor removing such material one piece at a time, from a pile containingmany layers of the material.

For handling sheets of relatively impervious material such as paper,cardboard, metal and the like, suction devices are commonly employed.Such devices are generally satisfactory for this purpose but are notsatisfactory if the material to be handled is sufliciently porousbecause of the obvious problem of picking from a pile only one sheet ata time without disturbing the underlying layer or layers of material.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved pickup headof simplified construction capable of removing one at a time from apile, a layer of flexible air pervious material such as cloth withoutdisturbing the underlying layer or layers of the material.

To this end and in accordance with a feature of the invention, thepickup head comprises a main body portion carrying fabric impaling meanswhich are movable relatively to the body portion into and out of fabricengaging positions, there being infiatable means which act directly onthe impaling means to control the movements thereof into and out of thefabric engaging positions.

The inflatable means, in accordance with a further feature of theinvention, comprises a tube or tubes which act directly on structure bywhich impaling prongs are carried for movement into and out of operativepositions so that expansion or contraction of the tube or tubes actsdirectly to control the positions of the prongs.

The above and other objects of the invention including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially broken away of one form of pickuphead embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial section through the front of the pickup head alongline IIII of FIG. 1 showing the means for closing the ends of thepneumatic tubes;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the head of FIG. 1 with the pickup prongsretracted;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the head of FIG. 1 with the pickup prongsextended embodying an alternative prong controlling mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a pickup head similar to that shown inFIG. 1 but with the prongs diverging instead of converging whenextended;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view partially in section of yet another form ofpickup head;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the pickup head of FIG. 6 with the pickupprongs extended; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the pickup head of FIG. 6 with the pickupprongs retracted.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the pickup head, which is thesubject matter of this invention, is of simple construction and has fewparts. Although the pickup head shown consists of several elementsfastened together, it will be understood that the major portion of thepickup head could be a unitary molded piece formed of any suitablematerial such as plastic, cast metal or epoxy filled aluminum. Thepickup head as pictured comprises an ir- 3,386,763 Patented June 4, 1968regularly shaped main body piece 2 having secured thereto a pair ofL-shaped side members 4. It is to be noted that the member 2 has a pairof right-angular grooves on each side, which when enclosed by theL-shaped members 4 form rectangular channels to receive the pickupelements 6.

The pickup elements 6 are generally inverted T-shaped members eachhaving a portion 8 slightly extended and terminating in a series ofspiked prongs 10 at its outer edge. The uniplanar surface of each of theportions 8 of the T-shaped pickup elements 6 is in slidable engagementwith a surface of the pickup head. The mounting allows the elements tomove along supporting surfaces of the pickup head to move the prongsbetween the positions of FIGS. 3 and 4. The stem of the T-shaped pickupelement 6 extends upwardly into the rectangular channel formed by thebody member 2 and the side members 4 and is flanked by pneumatic tubes12 and 14, FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, one on either side of the stem or as analternative, the pneumatic tubes 12 may be replaced by springs 13.

The position of each pickup element 6 is controlled by the associatedpneumatic tubes 12 and 14 so that when one of said tubes is inflated thepickup element will slide within the pickup head. The simple alternateexpansion of the tubes 12, 14 allows the prongs to extend from andretract into the body of said head. In the alternative assembly, FIG. 4,the tubes 14 will extend the prongs 10 but upon deflation thereof, theprongs will automatically be retracted by means of the springs 13.

It will be seen that by reason of its simplicity, the present deviceprovides not only a pickup device which is reliable without constantattention, but also capable of simple repair in the event of abreakdown.

Further to be seen in FIG. 1 is a sensing bore 16 which is designed todetect the time when the pickup prongs should be extended. In operation,when the pickup head comes into contact with the flat piece to be pickedup, a jet of air passing through the bore 16 is impeded, thus providinga back pressure and thus activating a fluidic switch or other similarcomponent (not part of this invention), directing fluid into the tubes14 and permitting exhaust of air from the tubes 12, forcing the pickupprongs beyond the lower surface of the pickup head. When the head hastransferred the piece to the appropriate place, the fluidic switch willbe again activated by any appropriate means, forcing fluid into thetubes 12, and exhausting it from the tubes 14 or in the embodiment ofFIG. 4 simply exhausting tubes 14, allowing the pickup prongs toretract, and thus discharging the piece (see FIG. 3).

Whereas it is entirely possible and feasible to use separate individualtubes for elements 12 and 14, it is within the contemplation of thisinvention to use a single tube securely pinched, see FIG. 2, by plates18 and 20 at the outer end of the pickup head. This method isparticularly desirable in that it does not require any actual sealingmeans. The exposed ends of the tubes 12 and 14 will be attached to anappropriate fluid source and the joining portions securely clamped toprevent leakage.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the prongs may protrude outwardly as opposedto inwardly as in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The operation of this device isidentical to that above described and the description will not berepeated.

This form, FIG. 5, of the pickup head is particularly valuable when itis desirable to pick up highly flexible material. The converging prongsmight well cause the material to bunch, preventing a positive grip. Thediverging prongs will place a tension upon the material, assuring apositive grip during the transfer as well as during the pickup.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show yet another form of a pickup head using the conceptsabove described. The head uses a unitary molded plastic main body 30having fingers 32 integrally molded therein. The plastic material may beany one of many which are commercially available, the only requirementbeing that the material be sufiiciently resilient to withstand repeatedflexings. For the purpose of increasing the useful life of the fingers,the work engaging portions are formed of prongs 34 embedded in thefingers 32. The prongs 34 may be of any material which has sufficientresistance to wear.

The operation of the unitary molded specie relies upon the inherentresilience of the finger members 32 to impale the fabric F and partiallydeflate the tubes 36, 38. When the air blast through sensor 40 isimpeded a switch is activated exhausting tubes 36, 38, allowing theprongs 34 to imbed themselves in the fabric F to be transported. When itis desired to release the grasped material, the pneumatic tubes 36, 38are inflated, expanding fingers 32 and releasing the transportedmaterial.

In each of the above disclosed pickup devices the pickup prongs shouldbe of such a length that they will not pass through the top piece of astack and thus, inadvertently, pick up more than one piece. The amountof penetration is dependent upon both the length of the prongs and theamount of pressure introduced into the pneumatic tubes or, in the caseof the head including the integral fingers, the extent of deflation ofthe tubes or the positions of the fingers when the tubes exert no force.The versatility of the present pickup head enables it to be successfullyand efliciently used in a great variety of situations.

It will be understood that the particular machine embodying theinvention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitationof the invention. The principles and features of this invention may beemployed in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pickup head for use in lifting and transporting flexible, flat, airpervious sheet material from a stack of such material comprising a mainbody portion, material impaling means carried by said body portion formove ment relatively thereto into and out of material engagingpositions, and inflatable means acting directly on said impaling meansto control the movement thereof into and out of material engagingposition.

2. A pickup head as in claim 1 wherein the main body portion and theimpaling means are of unitary construction.

3. A pickup head as in claim 1 wherein the main body portion and theimpaling means are separate relatively movable units.

4. A pickup head as in claim 1 wherein the head includes as an integralpart a sensing device to actuate the impaling means at an appropriatetime.

5. A pickup head as in claim 2 wherein the main body portion is of aplastic material and the impaling means are resilient inwardly biasedfingers which carry relatively rigid prongs, the inflatable means beingused to expand the inwardly and downwardly biased resilient fingerswhich carry the pickup prongs to release a carried sheet whereas thecontraction of said fingers and thus the pickup operation isaccomplished by releasing the pressure within said inflatable means.

6. A pickup head as in claim 3 wherein the impaling means converge asthey extend.

7. A pickup head as in claim 3 wherein the impaling means diverge asthey extend.

8. A pickup head as in claim 4 wherein the sensing device comprises ajet of air passing through the bottom of the pickup head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,790,688 2/1931 Willer 294-632,604,351 7/1952 Rose et a1. 294-61 2,823,947 2/1958 Delzer 294-883,176,979 4/1965 Engelrnann 271-18 3,285,649 11/ 1966 Harton 294-61ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

1. A PICKUP HEAD FOR USE IN LIFTING AND TRANSPORTING FLEXIBLE, FLAT, AIRPERVIOUS SHEET MATERIAL FROM A STACK OF SUCH MATERIAL COMPRISING A MAINBODY PORTION, MATERIAL IMPALING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BODY PORTION FORMOVEMENT RELATIVELY THERETO INTO AND OUT OF MATERIAL ENGAGING POSITIONS,AND INFLATABLE MEANS ACTING DIRECTLY ON SAID IMPALING MEANS TO CONTROLTHE MOVEMENT THEREOF INTO AND OUT OF MATERIAL ENGAGING POSITION.